Iowa State staring at most important week of season, starting with No. 12 West Virginia

AMES - The importance of this week for the Iowa State men's basketball team cannot be overstated.

Phrases like 'one game at a time” are commonplace in sports - and mostly overused - but the Cyclones (13-7, 5-3) are facing a week in which they host No. 12 West Virginia before going on the road to No. 2 Kansas.

That's daunting.

This week won't necessarily define the season, but the trajectory and overall perception of it can be affected based on the outcome. Iowa State and West Virginia (17-4, 5-3) tip off at 8 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN2.

'You go into the week knowing you're playing the (AP) No. 7 and No. 3 teams in the country, that says it right there,” said guard Naz Mitrou-Long. 'This is what you play for is these opportunities.

'It's a blessing to play in this type of league because coming off a loss like we did and be able to play two of the best in the country, it doesn't get better than that.”

Iowa State has seen lengthy dips in production in games throughout the season, but they have been especially apparent in the last three against Oklahoma, Kansas State and Vanderbilt. Offense can't go stagnant and defense can't become soft against the Mountaineers, or they'll make you pay.

'Bad defense leads to slow offense,” Iowa State coach Steve Prohm said. 'We had four guards out there (against Vanderbilt) at times. It's been good to us at times but it also can be a hindrance to us at times when we're not moving the ball and just trying to go one-on-one.

'If we have four guards out there (Tuesday), you attack against their pressure.”

West Virginia has been alternatively referred to as 'Press Virginia” the last several years with good reason. Their opponents have committed 22.7 turnovers per game while West Virginia ranks No. 1 on KenPom in defensive turnover percentage (30.6).

As intense and effective as that pressure style can be, point guard Monte Morris doesn't see it as an overly complicated system. It's a simple system designed to speed opponents up in order to make them uncomfortable. You break it by staying poised.

'They're going to be West Virginia, try to come in here, bully us and make the hustle plays,” Morris said. 'We've just got to come in here and be a man tomorrow night. That's the only way we're going to win.”

Breaking West Virginia's press is about poise and good guard play, which Iowa State is more than capable of producing.

Morris picked up his 666th career assist at Vanderbilt and became Iowa State's all-time leader, edging former Cyclones and NBA guard Jeff Hornacek. The senior from Flint, Mich., was also named to the Bob Cousy Award Final 10, which is given to the nation's best point guard.

Iowa State averages just 10.1 turnovers per game and is No. 2 on KenPom in offensive turnover percentage (13.8). Morris, Mitrou-Long, Donovan Jackson and Deonte Burton are all capable of initiating offense, and have to make quick decisions whenever the Mountaineers engage a full-court press or half-court trap.

'The biggest way to break the press is just making sure your guys are in the right spots,” Prohm said. 'Spacing. Not bringing too many people to the ball. And then you've got to be strong with the ball, and make passes and do the fundamental things as well.”

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